3
3 Each phase has been progressing across processes that can be studied with the help of diffusion theories ● Is there a pattern in the way telecommunications policies are adopted by different countries in Latin America? Timing? Imitation? Leaders and followers? ● What are the influencing factors driving policy adoption? ● Does the diffusion of planning initiatives across the region follow a pattern similar to that of privatization and competition? ● What can we learn from the first phase of privatization and competition that is relevant to the planning phase?

7
77 The institutional role in the diffusion process has followed several models VOLUNTARY TRANSFER (transfer by learning) COHERCIVE TRANSFER (direct imposition) CONDITIONALITY VOLUNTARY BUT DRIVEN BY AN EXTERNALITY (promote DFI) COMPULSORY TRANSFER (transfer as a result of an agreement) Auction of Band B spectrum in Brazil (1994) LLU in Europe Pressure from IMF for privatizing fixed line incumbents or liberalizing telecom industry (e.g. Korea) RATIONAL DECISION MAKING Influence in conducting Structural Separation INSTITUTIONAL ROLES IN THE TRANSFER OF PUBLIC POLICIES

10
10 There is a need to start breaking with the imitation cycle and assume policies that reflect the region’s realities ● Build a solid understanding of economic and social needs of our regions ● Leverage the expertise that has been built in the region within the last fifteen years (academia, regulatory, policy makers) ● Assess foreign experience in light of the regional requirements (which means shying away from mechanical benchmarks)

15
15 This explains the leadership assumed by State and local governments in promoting ICT agendas ● Redefinition of the top-down paradigm whereby planning flows from national level to regional and local ● Shift in the center of policy development due to lack of leadership (Argentina) ● Change in resource allocation and budgets ● Political competition ● The sub-sovereign emerges as an instance of intermediation between civil society and the state (closer to understanding needs from local economies) ● As of last year, over 1,800 “digital plans” at the municipal level

16
16 With notable exceptions, the region still lacks comprehensive ICT policies ● Lacking a long-term vision regarding the objectives for ICT infrastructure ● No ICT agenda that is aligned with key development plans ● Economic development plans do not consider ICT as a critical component ● Lack of political alignment and coordination among government entities regarding the ICT policy objectives ● Lack of political will to build a national comprehensive ICT agenda ● Policy makers lack in-depth understanding of the social and economic importance of ICT ● Lack of transparency in the process of building consensus between the public and private sector around ICT goals ● As a result, plans are in many cases the sum of secondary objectives lacking a unifying perspective of what they are trying to achieve

18
18 Need to continue constructing national ICT agendas in the region ● Governments need to assume a pro-active role in development and implementation of an ICT agenda, that goes beyond the regulator of the telecommunications sector ● The National agendas have to include: –Strategic vision of the role of ICT –Economic priorities in the supply and demand of ICT –Mechanisms for achieving not only economic impact but also fulfill social inclusion objectives –Mechanisms for promotion of adoption ● From a practical standpoint, the construction of a national agenda needs to follow four steps –Define a project for the country that is linked to ICT –Reach consensus among all public and private institutions related to ICT –Development of national plan –Formulation of specific projects ● Two alternatives if the above cannot be fulfilled –Leverage tools and programs that can achieve some impact (USO, e-literacy) –Rely on the private sector to assume leadership